Our goal is to give you the most up-to-date, accurate information about your state DMV's processes. The date you see here reflects the most recent time we've verified this information with your state DMV. When they change something, we do, too!

Verified Accurate As Of: 12/18/2018

Registration Renewal in South Carolina

Introduction

To drive legally in South Carolina, the SC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires residents to renew their registration every 2 years.

New to South Carolina?

South Carolina Registration Renewal Notice

The DMV will send out a renewal notice several weeks before your registration is set to expire. Registration renewal is typically during the month you first registered your vehicle. The renewal notice will list such things as:

Renewal fee.

Vehicle property tax.

Vehicle information.

Insurance verification, if required.

You must pay your vehicle property tax to your County Treasurer’s Office before you can renew your SC registration.

Didn’t Receive a Renewal Notice?

You are still required to renew your registration on time, even if you did not get a renewal notice.

If you normally receive a DMV renewal notice but didn’t this time, contact your County Treasurer’s Office to see if there is a problem with your renewal.

If you moved recently, update your address with the South Carolina DMV as soon as you can. Your vehicle registration must reflect your current address.

Renewing Your South Carolina Registration

You may renew your South Carolina registration online, in person, or by mail. You may only renew online if you received a mailer from the SCDMV notifying you that you need to verify your insurance or if you owe additional fees.

How to Renew Registration Online

Registrations are usually completed at the same time that personal vehicle property taxes are due. If you live in the following counties, you may renew your registration and pay your taxes online at the same time:

If your county is not listed, you will need to renew in person or by mail.

To renew online, follow all directions on your county office page (above) and submit the following:

Your license plate number.

Insurance company name and/or policy number (unless you elected to self-insure).

A valid Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card number to pay your renewal fees.

Note: Once you renew online, your new SC registration certificate and stickers will be mailed to you the next day.

If you receive a notification in the mail indicating that your registration wasn't processed correctly, you may properly finish the transaction online with the SC DMV or contact the DMV to check the status of your order.

Your renewal notice will list the exact amount that you need to pay to renew your vehicle. While your specific fees may vary, the standard registration fee for a passenger car is $40, and $10 for motorcycles.

Late Fees and Penalties

Late fees will apply if you fail to renew your SC registration by the expiration deadline, and the longer you wait, the more you will have to pay:

First 14 days―$10

15 to 30 days―$25

31 to 90 days―$50

Over 90 days―$75

SC Liability Insurance Requirements

South Carolina requires all vehicles to be insured. Failing to carry proper coverage at all times can result in the suspension of your driver’s license and registration, which you will have to pay to get reinstated ($100 initially, plus $5 for each day you didn’t have coverage).

The uninsured motorist fee is not an insurance premium, so if you are found at fault in an accident, you will be financially responsible for any and all damages.

South Carolina Emissions Testing

Currently, South Carolinians do not need to get their vehicle’s emissions tested before renewing the registration. Additional information regarding SC air quality and steps for decreasing your vehicle’s pollution may be found on our Smog and Emissions page.

Replacement Certificates, Stickers, and License Plates

If you lose your SC registration certificate or license plate stickers, you need to order replacements from the DMV right away. If your SC license plates have been stolen or are no longer legible, then you need to get new ones before you drive.

You may be charged an additional registration fee, depending upon when your old plates expired, in order to extend your new registration and plate to the full 2 years allowed.

Forms

FR-510

FR-510 Application for Uninsured Motorist Registration

If you qualify, you can use this form to register as an uninsured motorist in South Carolina.